Low Maintenance Mediterranean Landscape and Courtyard

Design Consultant Jeff Doubét is the author of Creating Spanish Style Homes: Before & After – Techniques – Designs – Insights. The 240 page “Design Consultation in a Book” is now available. Please visit SantaBarbaraHomeDesigner.com for more info. Jeff Doubét specializes in Santa Barbara style home and landscape designs. To learn more info about the variety of custom design services I offer, please visit SantaBarbaraHomeDesigner.com Jeff Doubét is the Founder of Santa Barbara Home Design - a design studio based in Santa Barbara, California USA.

Entry path to covered porch

Tim Andersen Architect

Detail of brick paving at entry porch shows herringbone "carpets" set within a brick running bond.

Garden Design - Elements Landscape

Elements Landscape

Before and After Water Features

Good Earth Water Gardens

Pondless Waterfall disappearing underground next to driveway.

Silicon Valley Family Landscape

Confidence Landscaping, Inc.

Low Water Use Gardens

Bartholomew Residence

Urban Landscape

Novato Mediterranean Front Hillside Garden

Dig Your Garden Landscape Design

Novato hillside garden, just a couple of months after planting with drought tolerant plants that include lavender, phormium, and a variety of hardy grasses to include Pennisetum 'Karley Rose' and Phormium, (New Zealand Flax). © Eileen Kelly, Dig Your Garden Landscape Design

Contemporary Outdoor Spaces

Chicago Roof Deck & Garden

Blue Stone Patio, Double Sided Fireplace, Outdoor Custom Concrete/Tropical Hardwood Benches, Horizonal Tropical Hardwood Slat Screening, Lighting, Landscaping, and Outdoor Furniture. - Designed by Adam Miller

Modern Garden with a rustic twist

Yorkshire Gardens

Within this garden we wanted to create a space which was not only on numerous levels, but also had various points of interest. This garden is on a slope, but is also very wide. Firstly, we broke up the space by using rustic sleepers to create several raised beds,as well as steps which lead to differennt zones. This helps to give the garden a more traditional, country edge. The sleepers were also used to create a winding path through out the garden, marrying together the various areas. The path leads up to the impressive sunburst pergola and circular stone patio. This is the perfect spot to view the whole garden. At the other end of the garden another pergola sits amougnst a bustling flower bed, and will be used to train vining flowers. Along the back wall of the garden a raised bed is home to a stunning display of wildflower. This plot is not only a fabulous riot of colour and full of rustic charm, but it also attracts a whole host of insects and animals. While wildflowers looks great they are also very low maintenance. Mixed gravel has been used to create a variety of texture. This surface is intermittently dotted with colour with lemon thyme, red hot pokers and foxgloves. Stone has been used to create a warm and welcoming patio area. Flower beds at the front of the garden can be used for veg and other leafy plants. Overall we have created a country style with a very contemporary twist through the use of gravel, modern shape and structural landscaping.

San Luis Obispo Woodland Garden

Erik Jones Landscaping

A pond and stream are hidden along these steps. Backyard steps utilize large flagstone pieces. Irish moss, blue star creeper, scotch moss, and mini mondo grass are a few of the plants growing between the stones. This yard has over 60 Japanese Maples and lots of ferns, ligularias, hydrangeas, and other shade plants Erik Jones

Custom Metal Fencing

Great Lakes Metal Fabrication

Custom wrought iron fencing, wavy contemporary metal panels, steel privacy screen for neighbors, decorative metal fencing design.

To read more about this project, click here or start at the Great Lakes Metal Fabrication metal railing page

Barrington Landscaping Projects

Bob's Landscaping

Planting in Biltmore of North Barrington. We also installed all the stone embedded in the hill.

Stylish Digs in Echo Park

Urban Oasis Landscape Design

Large picture windows looked out onto the empty narrow side yard. Our solution was to create a dramatic 3D modular installation with CorTen Planters filled with low maintenance cacti.

Custom Raised Gardens

customraisedgardens

Cedar 3'x6'x18"Deep 32"High gardens over all with bottom platform and legs.

Princeton Junior League Showhouse & Gardens

Ronni Hock Garden & Landscape

After view at patio level, looking South over the grow zone

Metamorphic Design

Overlooking the vegetable garden "grow zone" made with Western red cedar raised planter boxes, each individually piped with drip irrigation on a wireless remote control. Additional elements are the greenhouse, water tub, potting shed & custom designed pergola.

Driveways

Douds Bros. Landscape Construction, Inc.

Contemporary Garden 2

Green Tree Garden Design Ltd

Looking into the garden from the dining area. Richard Brown Photography Ltd

Water Features and Yard

Bu-Kai Design LLC

Poured concrete three tiered double spillway coated with a polyurea liner, filled with river rock and planted horsetail reeds. Cantilevered batu wood bench attached. D. Leonidas Photography

Brown Garden Design Ideas

Get Inspired by Gardens on Houzz

A lot of the time when you get home from a long day at work, all you want to do is wind down. Where better to do this than in your very own garden at home? If you do it right, a great garden design can send you right into holiday mode. But where to start? There’s so many styles to choose from when it comes to garden design. Whether you want to create a tropical, modern, contemporary, beach style or country garden - or something else entirely - the large garden image gallery on Houzz has got you covered. Get inspired and collect your ideas to narrow down your desired garden style and features.

How to Create a Garden for Your Home

Depending on which style you’re going for, be sure to know what makes a garden and if it’s appropriate for your climate. You may want to consider adding a deck or other landscaping features, but the plants you choose will mostly dictate your style and what kind of ongoing maintenance is required. Don’t worry if your backyard isn’t very spacious - there are many plants that can thrive even in a small space and allow you to turn your space into a little paradise of your own, regardless of size.

Decide which plants to use

The greenery you choose is critical to your look. For example, if you’re trying to create a tropical garden palm trees and bamboo are your go-to options. Other popular options are golden cane palm trees and fern for ground cover. From there you can add some colour with bright flowers like frangipani, hibiscus or bromeliads. All these are actually quite hardy plants, so once established, your tropical garden is actually quite easy to maintain. Use this structure and apply it to your style. Research which plants you need to set your base for a garden and go from there.

Add some decor

If the plants don’t quite do it for you yet, or if you want to add some extra wow-factor, consider adding some extra features. Even if you can’t accommodate a swimming pool, hot tub or pond, you could look at smaller water features. Simple rocks can also have a great effect, while statues and gnomes will add some extra character. Don’t forget to add some furniture so you have a nice place to sit and enjoy your garden!

Need some help?

Once you know what you want your garden to look like, it may be hard to make it a reality on your own. If that is the case for you, consider consulting a professional to help you with your garden design. Every photo you find on Houzz will lead you to the local pro that did the job, so you won’t have a problem picking the perfect person to help! Whether you need a gardener in Brisbane, a landscape architect in Melbourne or a fireplace installer in Sydney, you can be sure to find one on Houzz.